WE'RE A FAMILY

The apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 12:12, "The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up only one body. So it is with the body of Christ."

In the next few verses, Paul went on to say that all of us as members are unique; we each have our own individual abilities and ways that we contribute to the church family, and every one of us is necessary. We care for each other and help each other so that together we can be the family that God wants us to be.

Everyone needs a church family. And if you're looking for a church family, Azalea City is the place to be. You'll find that we are truly a kind and loving family of believers, a family committed to God and to each other.

In John 13:35, Jesus said, "By this shall all men know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." We at Azalea City have long had a reputation of being people who truly love one another.

We believe strongly in Jesus' prayer for unity among God's children (John 17:20-23). Even though our members come from diverse backgrounds, we are committed to being united and caring for one another. We strive to practice Paul's instruction in Romans 14:19, "So then let us pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another."

Azalea City is a place where people know your name. It is a place where people care when you hurt, and a place where people expect and encourage the best from one another. We truly are a loving forever family.

We believe in the importance of Bible study, both personally and as a church family, so that we might be greatly blessed thereby (2 Timothy 3:15-17; Acts 17:11; Hebrews 5:11-14; 1 Peter 2:2).

Every sermon is based upon Scripture and intended to be easily understood and practical. Listeners are encouraged to read along and study for themselves. Our desire is to trust in the words of God, not the words of men.

Our Bible class program follows a curriculum designed to help the student understand all of God's word. Our teachers believe the Bible and care about sharing its great truths. Each class encourages discussion, questions, and the active involvement of every student.

From the time they are babies, children attend great Bible classes. Teachers hand-make many of the teaching materials. They make learning so interesting that our children can hardly wait to get to class.

In addition to our Sunday morning and Wednesday evening Bible classes, our younger children attend Children's Bible Hour every Sunday evening while the teens and adults worship together in the auditorium. Several families in the congregation work to make this special children's program exciting and educational.

We are also blessed with a fine group of teenagers and a ministry dedicated to teaching and training them. Our teens attend Bible classes specifically designed to meet their needs and to encourage them to faithfully live for the Lord.

Azalea City is also committed to providing good and relevant Bible classes for our adults. We are blessed with a variety of talented men who share in the teaching responsibilities. Two or three different adult classes are offered on Sunday mornings. In addition, our Wednesday evening gathering offers a separate class for women taught by women. Whatever you're looking for, you'll have no trouble finding a class that fits you just right.

Acts 2:42-47 paints a beautiful picture of the early church and their dedication to fellowship. They spent much time together as they uplifted and encouraged one another. We at Azalea City strive to exhibit a similar spirit of loving fellowship within the family. We just love being together (Romans 12:10).

Azalea City is blessed with excellent physical facilities. We have about 20 acres of land upon which sits, not only our main auditorium and classroom building, but also a large multi-purpose building which is used for basketball, volleyball, various teen activities and other fellowship gatherings. Elsewhere on the property is a deluxe softball field and a picnic pavilion, and there's still plenty of room to add more amenities in the future. All these facilities are intended to bless our church family and the families of the community around us.

We have several activities that are scheduled regularly for our family as a whole. For instance, many gather to eat together before our Wednesday evening Bible class. We also often have what we call "Family Day," a day devoted to spending time as a church family as we worship together, eat together, and fellowship together.

In addition to activities for the entire church family, there are also numerous activities specifically designed for our various age groups, from our younger children all the way to our adults.

The teenagers at Azalea City are very active in several programs. Not only are they busy doing things for themselves, but they also keep busy doing good things for other people. They are actively involved in teaching their friends about Christ. They enjoy being together and often meet to study, fellowship, and support one another. The teens take part in many spiritual and recreational activities throughout the year.

Every adult is part of a special fellowship group designed to meet the spiritual and social needs of that age group. Whether you are a young professional, young married, older adult, or somewhere in-between, there is a place for you at Azalea City.

The Azalea City Forever Family is a working group of people. We strive to practice what the Bible teaches about caring for the needs of others (Galations 6:1-2, 9-10; Philippians 2:1-8; 1 John 3:14-18).

We know that every person has many God-given abilities. We believe that putting those talents to use is a key to happiness and fulfillment in life. We strive to meet not only the needs of our membership, but the needs of the community around us as well.

Our members believe in the importance of visiting local hospitals, nursing homes, and the homes of our shut-ins. Many of our ladies meet together every Tuesday morning to study the Bible, prepare food for the elderly, visit those in need, and help out wherever necessary. As needs arise, we help families care for their sick, and we respond to a number of calls for benevolent help.

Almost every member of the church here is involved in our annual Family Vacation Bible School. We are well-known in the area for our superb presentations of biblical stories and principles. Many of our members also help serve at the Gulf Coast Bible Camp every summer. And our annual Fall Festival is a popular event that draws many people from the community. All this and more is evidence of an active, involved, and working group of God's people.

Like most churches, we gather every first day of the week, the day Christ rose from the grave (Mark 16:9), to worship the Lord and encourage one another. What makes the Church of Christ somewhat unique is the desire to restore various practices to the way it was done in the first century church. Accordingly, our style of worship is perhaps quieter and simpler than is found in some modern churches.

The music in worship is limited to a cappella singing (vocal; the term a cappella is of Italian origin literally meaning, "in the manner of the chapel or church"). We do this in order to reflect the manner in which the early church worshipped in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs (Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16). This was also the manner which was traditional in all churches for several hundred years.

Granted, there may not be as much drama and sensation when singing without the addition of mechanical instruments. However, there is nothing to compare to the sound of God's people joining together in a beautiful harmony of voices. As everyone contributes his/her part, as we listen to voices both young and old, there is a wondrous and emotional reminder of our unity and fellowship and our abundant love for one another.

Just as the first century Christians, we also set aside time in our worship assembly to remember the sacrifice of Jesus through the memorial of the Lord's Supper (Matthew 26:26-28; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26). And, just like the early Christians, we do this on every first day of the week (Acts 20:7). As we partake of the unleavened bread and the fruit of the vine, we do so together as a family in loving remembrance of the body and blood of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.

Thank you for letting us tell you something about ourselves. We hope you will come and visit with us. When you do, you will be treated as our honored guest. We'll shake your hand and introduce ourselves. We'll help you find a Bible class where you will feel comfortable. We will really try to make you feel welcome.

So if you're looking for a place to worship God, a place where there are friendly, Bible-believing people, then Azalea City is probably just the right place for you.

We would love for you to join with us and be a part of our forever family. And together we will lift up each other, we will let our lights shine, and the world will see Jesus our Savior living in us.